MMO Updates

Flameseeker Chronicles: Sylvari week wrap-up
Planetside 2 may feature space-based gameplay
LEGO Universe goes F2P today
New Origins sandbox MMO wants your creature concepts
Live like royalty with a Wizard101 Massive Fantasy Palace from Massively!
MV Guide: August 15-21, 2011
The Daily Grind: What are your thoughts on headgear?
Week in Review: Treehugging
EVE Evolved: Flying the Dominix
One Shots: Felice needs your help
Rise and Shiny recap: Free Realms
Choose your abilities with ArcheAge's custom class creator
The Anvil of Crom: An exclusive preview of Dead Man's Hand

Flameseeker Chronicles: Sylvari week wrap-up

Posted: 15 Aug 2011 10:30 AM PDT

Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Races, Flameseeker Chronicles

Guild Wars 2 Sylvari week is over, much to the relief of abused F5 keys everywhere. We've finally seen the redesign, we've read the lore, we've gotten more details about the culture, we've watched new videos, and best of all, we've talked the subject to death.

Now that it's all over and we've had a chance to process the infodump, it's time for my standard post-race-week Flameseeker Chronicles analysis. Follow along after the jump, where I'll recap a few of the high points of Sylvari week.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Sylvari week wrap-up

Flameseeker Chronicles: Sylvari week wrap-up originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planetside 2 may feature space-based gameplay

Posted: 15 Aug 2011 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, MMOFPS, Planetside 2

A few more Planetside 2 details have emerged thanks to a presentation given by Sony Online Entertainment's John Smedley and Matt Higby at a recent SyndCon gathering. The duo explained how Planetside 2's dynamic weather system will affect combat and that smoke resulting from prolonged firefights will also play a role. The catch here, according to FPSguru, is that these features "may not be in at launch, but [are] definitely in the long-term plan."

Speaking of iteration, Smedley also drew comparisons to EVE Online's "outside-in" approach (specifically, the fact that CCP began with a space game and added planet-based gameplay at a later date). Planetside 2 will reverse this process, beginning with a single continent, "then add[ing] more continents and eventually, planets," Smedley said. Plans for space-based gameplay are also on the table.

There's a bit more to the article including riffs on certifications (i.e., skills) and the inevitable cash shop. Head to FPSguru for more details.

Planetside 2 may feature space-based gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LEGO Universe goes F2P today

Posted: 15 Aug 2011 09:30 AM PDT

Filed under: Trailers, Video, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, LEGO Universe, Kids, Family, Miscellaneous, Sandbox

Free-to-play conversions have been in the news a lot lately, with games as diverse as Age of Conan and Champions Online throwing open their doors with various flavors of free access. LEGO Universe is the latest freemium convert, and today is the official kickoff for the brick-building MMORPG's new membership tier.

So what can you do for free in LEGO Universe?

Two adventure zones and one player property area are available for starters, and the game also offers up a decent selection of free mini-games, build options, and basic functionality (including the ability to sample faction gear and collect up to 10,000 coins). The LEGO Group is clearly looking to entice gamers to upgrade to a full membership, though, as it only costs $10 a month and it unlocks the full game including over 15 adventuring zones, access to upcoming expansion content, and the ability to join in competitions and community events. Head to the official LEGO Universe website for a full listing of free-to-play offerings and subscriber benefits. You can also click past the cut to see a new free-to-play trailer featuring gameplay and world-building highlights.

Continue reading LEGO Universe goes F2P today

LEGO Universe goes F2P today originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Origins sandbox MMO wants your creature concepts

Posted: 15 Aug 2011 09:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Contests, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Sandbox

There's a new indie sandbox in town -- or at least in development -- and the team at Origins is looking for a few good fan submissions to help them populate the game. Actually the devs are looking for one good submission, but that didn't have quite the same ring to it. Anyway, the Origins website was recently updated with a new Create a Monster contest, and the lucky winner will get to see his design incorporated into the gameworld (and the lore) of Burning Dog's upcoming MMORPG.

Submissions should be in the form of artwork, images, or text, and are limited to a single entry per person. You'll also need to like Origins on Facebook or follow the game's Twitter feed prior to submitting your work. The contest is currently accepting entries and it runs through September 14th, so don't delay if you think you've got what it takes to make your MMO mob concepts a reality.

New Origins sandbox MMO wants your creature concepts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live like royalty with a Wizard101 Massive Fantasy Palace from Massively!

Posted: 15 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Contests, Free-to-play, Wizard101, Giveaways, Family

Wizard101 has been a big fan favorite in the MMO world thanks in large part to the wide range of player accessories, including housing.

The Massive Fantasy Palace is the biggest house in Wizard101, available only as part of the Toys R Us Epic Bundle Card... until now. The team at KingsIsle Entertainment has given us 15 Massively Fantasy Palace codes to share with you, our readers.

Simply leave a comment below and tell us your favorite thing about housing in Wizard101 by noon EDT on Wednesday, August 17th. Once the deadline arrives, we'll draw 15 winners at random and email codes to the winners. Ready to enter? Just check out our contest rules and leave your comment before the deadline. Best of luck!

Live like royalty with a Wizard101 Massive Fantasy Palace from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MV Guide: August 15-21, 2011

Posted: 15 Aug 2011 07:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's scheduled for this week!

Continue reading MV Guide: August 15-21, 2011

MV Guide: August 15-21, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What are your thoughts on headgear?

Posted: 15 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Humor, Miscellaneous

In the real world, helms and hats are important bits of clothing, especially if you're talking about armor that includes a hefty chunk of metal complete with terrifying plume. So it makes perfect sense that pretty much every MMO set in a vaguely fantasy setting (i.e., nearly all of them) would feature a variety of important hats for characters to equip. But we also live in a society in which most men and women do not wear hats on a regular basis, and that's not even getting into the fact that most lower-level hats in MMOs look kind of dorky at best.

Some people like having hats on their characters; hats are part of those characters' appearance. But for many other players, the hat detracts from a character's distinct look, unless it's a purely cosmetic addition without any kind of stats. So what are your thoughts on headgear? Do you like the way it looks? Do you think it should be more freely customizable? Or do you just walk around with the display of said headgear permanently off and never give it a spare thought beyond the stat boosts it provides?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: What are your thoughts on headgear? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Week in Review: Treehugging

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 06:00 PM PDT

Filed under: Massively meta, Week in Review, Miscellaneous

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

Whether you love Elves or hate them as much as Justin does, they're a staple of the MMO fantasy genre, and this week, ArenaNet revealed the long-awaited redesign of its version of a nature-loving, pointy-eared race. Guild Wars 2's Sylvari Week gave us a glimpse into the visuals, culture, starting zone, and personality of the newly beautiful and revitalized Tyrian treehuggers. Now, where's my Asuran Week?!

And over the weekend, Funcom deluged fans with Age of Conan goodies, including an interview with Silirrion and exclusive previews of Dead Man's Hand and the Savage Coast of Turan adventure pack.

Join us past the break for a look at this week's other top MMO stories!

Continue reading Week in Review: Treehugging

Week in Review: Treehugging originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: Flying the Dominix

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 04:00 PM PDT

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Classes, Game mechanics, PvP, PvE, Hands-on, EVE Evolved, Guides

Of all the ships I've flown over the years in EVE Online, the Gallente Dominix remains one of my absolute favourites. It's big, it's slow, and it looks like an upside-down mouldy shoe, but it's forever been one of the most versatile battleships in the game. With a massive bonus of 10% to drone damage and hitpoints per level of the Gallente Battleship skill, the Dominix can easily deal around 500 damage per second just with its drones. It can take on targets of any size by switching to medium or light drones and can field a full rack of six railguns or blasters to push its damage even higher.

In PvE, the Dominix can be set up as a long-range damage platform for blitzing missions, a salvaging platform relying only on drone damage, or even a heavily tanked ship that will take all the damage while your drones automatically kill everything in sight. For PvP, the Dominix can be used for short-range damage, sniping, remote repair support, electronic warfare support, spider-tanking, capacitor warfare, and other roles. It can shield tank or armour tank and can even be set up with a reasonable hull tank for a surprise factor.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I give two viable PvE fittings for the Dominix and two of my favourite PvP setups, along with advice on how to use each setup to its fullest.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Flying the Dominix

EVE Evolved: Flying the Dominix originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Felice needs your help

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 02:00 PM PDT

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, EverQuest II, Free-to-play, One Shots

We wrap up One Shots pop culture week with another EverQuest II entry and another very familiar name, thanks to Emily:

Felice Adae is a timid, red-haired Elven quest-giver in the Sundered Frontier. She's supposed to be learning more about the newly rediscovered city there but is too shy, so she sends you on a series of quests to investigate in her stead.

We're revisiting an old favorite theme all next week on One Shots: environments. The game world is an area that most developers put a huge amount of effort into, and it shows. Do you have a favorite landscape, particularly eye-catching weather effect, or hidden jewel in an out-of-the-way location? Snap a screenshot of your favorite MMO area, tell us a bit about what and where it is, and send it to oneshots@massively.com. We'll be featuring the best of them all next week!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

One Shots: Felice needs your help originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Free Realms

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 12:00 PM PDT

Filed under: Business models, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Free Realms, Family, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

This week I decided to revisit a game that has been covered and played by me (and this site) quite a bit before. In hindsight, Free Realms was a bit of a big deal when it was released. I have to admit that I thought it was going to be something different than it was, but I was pleasantly surprised at how it played and looked. It wasn't so long ago, but my, how things have changed in the game.

Critics have said that Sony Online Entertainment ruined certain systems while loyal fans have collected pets, decorated their houses, and had a pretty darn good time. Where do I fall along the spectrum? Well, I simply have not made as much time for the game as I would have liked lately, so I couldn't tell you. Early on, I was obsessed enough over the game to host a brief podcast about it and to level up several jobs. Fastforward to now, when I decided to take a week and revisit the game.

Click past the cut and I'll let you know what I found.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Free Realms

Rise and Shiny recap: Free Realms originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Choose your abilities with ArcheAge's custom class creator

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 11:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, ArcheAge, Sandbox

ArcheAge's skill and class system is still something of a mystery to most folks in the West, due to both the language barrier and the fact that XL Games hasn't outlined all the particulars in detail. The company has updated its English-language website, though, and the ability-combination page gives a bit more insight into what players can expect when building characters in the upcoming sandpark title.

The page features a charted list of abilities that, when combined in groups of three, result in a particular class name being displayed. We're assuming that the resulting class will then get to select specific skills from each ability tree. For example, selecting the artistry, calling, and wild abilities results in a class called a Plainsrunner, and reading between the lines on each ability description indicates a Ranger-like class with a pet, stealth, support buffs, and ranged attacks.

If you're looking for a traditional fantasy class, XL provides premade Warrior, Priest, and Wizard templates just above the chart (as well as something called a Chaser), and you can also view brief videos of 10 of the listed abilities via the link in the left margin.

Choose your abilities with ArcheAge's custom class creator originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Anvil of Crom: An exclusive preview of Dead Man's Hand

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Age of Conan, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, Previews, Free-to-play

Welcome to a special edition of The Anvil of Crom. It's not often that I give up the captain's chair on this here column (in fact, today is the first time, if you want to get technical about it). In the interests of bringing you fine folk an exclusive Savage Coast of Turan content preview, though, it seemed like the prudent thing to do.

Today's installment will give you a first look at Dead Man's Hand, and no, I'm not talking about the unfortunate Xbox title that I once purchased in the hopes of playing Red Dead Redemption six years prior to Red Dead Redemption. No, this Dead Man's Hand is a new single-player instance in Age of Conan, and it's debuting shortly with all the rest of AoC's movie tie-in adventure pack content.

Head past the cut to join me in discovering what Funcom has to say about its latest dungeon endeavor (and oh yeah, I've got some exclusive screens and concept art for you as well).

Gallery: Age of Conan Gallery